(Ruminal methane emission related aspects in cattle production systems

Abstract

Methane is well known as a greenhouse
effect intensifier. Ruminants, during the ruminal digestive
fermentation process, transform carbohydrates available
in the diet to volatile fatty acids, with production of carbon
dioxide and methane. Therefore, ruminants are known
as important methane source to the atmosphere.
Methane production also means animal losses of
ingested energy. Ruminal fermentation process is driven
by dry matter intake, and feed quality. Therefore,
consume of low quality diets will produce more methane
per product unit (milk or beef) compared to high
producing animals ingesting great amounts of high quality
diets. The sulphur hex fluoride gas tracer technique did
allow good methane emission measurements by grazing
or free managed animals. Results show that the
reduction of methane emission by cattle is related to
better quality diet, to improvement of forage quality of
pastures, to grain inclusion in diet, to animal breeds with
greater production potential, and other practices that
improve production efficiency, and result in shorter
production cycles.